LIVERPOOL Cathedral will be surrounded by a ring of steel to protect the Queen tomorrow in one of the biggest security operations in Merseyside history.

LIVERPOOL Cathedral will be surrounded by a ring of steel to protect the Queen tomorrow in one of the biggest security operations in Merseyside history.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are in the city for the historic Maundy Service, which is being held in Liverpool for the first time.

The Queen will hand out the traditional Maundy gift of purses containing specially minted silver coins, which are this year being presented to 78 men and 78 women, to mark her 78th year.

Merseyside police have been working with the Queen's own security team and the Metropolitan police force for the past six months to devise the security plan.

It involves:

* Using one of a number of possible routes to get the Queen to and from the cathedral with the actual one only being decided in the hours before her arrival

* A ring of steel around the historic building to stop any unauthorised person getting in

* High vantage points to watch the Queen's journey from Lime Street station and back

* Searching every person who has been invited to the service - they have all been put through background checks

* Using a special communication system which allows officers from all three teams to speak directly to each other

All available Merseyside police horses and their riders, a total of 18, will be dressed in ceremonial attire to escort the Queen into the cathedral.

They will be led by 18-year-old horse Highlander, who on Saturday led Grand National champion Amberleigh House into the winner's enclosure.

Merseyside police chief superintendent Paul Forrester said: "I am confident this will be a truly magnificent occasion for the city.

"There has been six months of planning and everything is in place to make sure Her Majesty's visit runs smoothly.

"We have looked at a number of routes which could be used by her car but will not make a final decision until the morning.

"This is an invitation-only occasion and thorough checks have been made on those who will be attending

"There will be search procedures in place but we want the atmosphere to be good and there will be nothing heavy-handed.

"We expect around 3,000 people to attend on the day and we want them to all enjoy a fantastic occasion.

"But if anyone does notice something which they are unhappy about they should tell their nearest police officer."

Tomorrow's proceedings will begin with the Yeomen of the Guard marching from the Metropolitan Cathedral to Liverpool Cathedral where they will await the Queen's arrival.

They will be led by the Merseyside police horses who will help see the Queen into the building with a salute.

Insp Graham Howard, of the force's mounted section, will be riding lead horse Highlander.

He said: "This is an amazing honour and we have never used as many horses as this for one occasion.

"Highlander will not be nervous in the slightest - although I might be."

Royal visit will be a day to remember

CENTURIES of pomp and ceremony are at the heart of tomorrow's Maundy Service.

But modern technology means crowds outside Liverpool Cathedral can hear the historic events unfold as a sound system has been set up to broadcast the proceedings.

The arrival of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will be heralded by a fanfare from brass players and the service will be sung by the choirs of Liverpool Cathedral and the choir of Her Majesty's Chapels Royal.

A series of processions will enter the cathedral before the service.

The Ecumenical Procession, which starts at 10.30am, includes leaders of other Merseyside faith communities, representatives of Christian churches and church leaders.

Next comes the choir procession, followed by the College of Canons with the Assistant Bishops of Liverpool and the Bishop of Warrington, and the Royal Almonry Procession. This features some of the most historic posts in Britain, including the Yeoman of the Guard and the Lord High Almoner.

The Chief Constable and Merseyside Mayors and Mayoresses arrive ahead of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh just before 11am.

The service includes:

* First lesson read by the Duke of Edinburgh from the Gospel of St John.

* Distribution of the Maundy gifts.

* The National Anthem.

* The blessing to be said by the Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones.

After the service, which is expected to finish between noon and 12.30pm, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will meet crowds on a walkabout.

How the traffic will be affected

SEVERAL bus services will be diverted as roads around the Cathedral are closed tomorrow.

But train services coming into Lime Street will not be affected and the station concourse will be open as usual.

Hope Street will be shut between Mount Pleasant and Hardman Street from 4am to

10.45am, and between Hardman Street and Upper Parliament Street until 1.30pm.

Upper Duke Street will also be closed until 1.30pm, and Canning Street will be cordoned off between Hope Street and Catharine Street.

Road closures will also affect Leece Street, Hardman Street, Myrtle Street, Mount Pleasant and Oxford Street at times between 9.15-10.45am.

During these times, service 1, 107/207, will run as normal from Aigburth to Lime Street then via Brownlow Hill, Crown Street, Grove Street and Oxford Street, with the return route the same.

Service 4 will run as normal from Brunswick to Duke Street then via Great George Street, Upper Parliament Street, Grove Street and Crown Street.

Services 35/75, 73, 80/80A, and 86 will have normal inbound routes to the Rialto then run via Upper Parliament Street, Great George Street, Berry Street, and Renshaw Street.

The Queen will take lunch at Liverpool Hope University in Shaw Street. There are no planned diversions, but Stops at the Collegiate will be coned off between 6am and 4pm.

In the event of Langsdale Street being closed, Service 101 will divert via Shaw Street & Everton Brow, cutting out Salisbury Street.